Ernie is Bert’s best friend and roommate on Sesame Street.
The pair debuted together in the show’s earliest material and became one of its defining comedy duos. Bert is serious, orderly, and fond of pigeons, paperclips, and quiet hobbies; Ernie is playful, impulsive, and constantly inventing games or jokes. Their contrasting personalities drive many of the program’s classic sketches.
The two characters live together at 123 Sesame Street, although the show generally presents their relationship as a close friendship rather than explaining the practical details of their household. Ernie’s beloved Rubber Duckie is another recurring part of the apartment’s stories, while Bert’s patience is often tested by Ernie’s antics.
A common mix-up is confusing Bert’s roommate with another familiar Sesame Street friend, such as Grover or Big Bird. Grover is one of the show’s major recurring Muppets, but he is not Bert’s established roommate. The partnership between Bert and Ernie has remained central since Sesame Street premiered in 1969, with both characters continuing through different performer changes.